Falklands 30 - Friday's Hotting Up News

Falklands Island protest outside British embassy in Argentina.

Argentinian riot police defended the British Embassy in Buenos Aires on Friday 20 January 2012 as protesters burned Union flags, denouncing David Cameron’s accusation that Agentina was guilty of “colonialism”.

by Barney Henderson, Daily Telegraph.

A crowd of demonstrators gathered outside the embassy, which was being protected by police, and burned Union flags.

"We repudiate the statements of Cameron and of sending imperial troops to the Falklands," leftist leader Vilma Ripoll said Friday during the march.

"The government must move from words to deeds and break off relations right now with British colonialism."

Diplomatic tensions between Britain and Argentina have increased up in the past two months.

Last month, a powerful South American trading bloc announced a ban on ships flying the Falklands Island flag from docking at ports. The 30th anniversary of the 1982 Falklands War is in April.

In a move that has angered Argentina, the Duke of Cambridge is due to complete a six-week mission as a rescue pilot in the disputed territory early this year.

Argentina has complained that Prince William's mission is "a provocative act".

The Royal Air Force has insisted Prince William is going as part of a "normal squadron crew rotation".

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister accused Argentina of "colonialism" towards the Falklands, which are British-held but also claimed by Buenos Aires.

"The key point is we support the Falkland Islanders' right to self-determination, and what the Argentinians have been saying recently, I would argue is actually far more like colonialism because these people want to remain British and the Argentinians want them to do something else," he said at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons.

"I'm determined we should make sure that our defences and everything else is in order, which is why the National Security Council discussed this issue."

Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is currently in Brazil, said on Thursday that Britain was launching its "most ambitious effort to strengthen ties with Latin America in 200 years".

"The days of our diplomatic retreat from your region are over," he said.

Argentina's foreign minister Héctor Timerman said: "Instead of convening its National Security Council, Great Britain should call Ban Ki-moon and accept the multiple resolutions of the [UN] organisation urging a dialogue on the Malvinas [Falklands] question to reach a peaceful solution."

Mr Timerman added that Britain was "in imperial decline" was attempting to "rewrite history".

Argentina's interior minister Florencio Randazzo said the "colonialism" comment was "absolutely offensive".

A US State Dpartment spokesman said on Friday: "We recognise de facto United Kingdom administration of the islands but take no position regarding sovereignty."

The picture: Protesters outside the British Embassy in Buenos Aires.